Racism, prejudice and discrimination affect people’s livelihood in many ways. People often get discriminated against based on things that cannot be controlled, like their race. This essay focuses on how discrimination against students in school is based on their race and how it affects their school life. Black students shared their experiences of how they were discriminated against in a private white school. The students faced many challenges, especially when they tried standing up for themselves when the white student would call them using the N-word. The students often felt like they did not belong in private schools since they lacked self-confidence (Isoke & Wellemeyer, 2020). The students shared that they mostly did not want to take part in any opportunities since they did not want to endure being racially discriminated against. This kind of discrimination makes the students lose their self-esteem and the traumas experienced affects the mental health of these students in the long term.
Black American students in private schools face much discrimination, especially if a school has a lot of white students. Black American students often lack a sense of belonging in this development. They try to fit in with the other students, hoping that school life will be easy. The teachers who are supposed to protect the students do not stand up for them when fellow students discriminate against them. Some teachers play a role in discriminating the black American students, especially during lessons (Isoke & Wellemeyer, 2020).
- Affirmative: Black American Students Face Much Racial Discrimination and Prejudice in Private Schools, Mostly if the School Has Few Black Americans.
- Negative: Black American students are not the only ones who get discriminated against in school. Many other students get discriminated against by fellow students despite their race or social class. Over the years, there has been much diversity in private and public schools. The diversity in schools has led to a reduction in cases of discrimination. Educating the teachers and students against discrimination has greatly impacted the reduction of racial discrimination—an increase of movement and activists to fight racism and advocate for change. Antiracist policies have been introduced in schools to fight racial discrimination.
- Affirmative: The Diversification in Schools Has Greatly Helped Shine the Light on Reducing Racism in Schools.
Negative: Despite the Diversity, Racism Is a Big Problem in Some Schools.
Statement: With the Awareness of Racial Discrimination, Black Americans Do Not Fear Getting Attacked.
Rebuttal: With the awareness everywhere, it does not mean the black Americans are not in constant fear of getting racially discriminated. For instance, according to a nationwide Washington Post-Ipsos poll, with the attack on the Buffalo supermarket shooting, Black Americans fear getting attacked. Nearly 75% of African Americans fear that either themselves or someone they love will be attacked due to the color of their skin (Foster-Frau et al., 2022). This poll was conducted following a recent incident in a Buffalo grocery store where ten people were murdered in a major African American neighborhood (Foster-Frau et al., 2022). Only 8% of those polled said they were surprised by the shooting. After the shootings, only 10% of those surveyed saw that racism would improve in their lifetime, and 53% believed racism would get worse (Foster-Frau et al., 2022). - Affirmative: The Results Might Be Inconclusive Since the Poll Was Conducted After the Shooting.
- Negative: Racism Is a Problem That Keeps on Growing With Time Rather Than Coming to an End.
- Statement: The Shooting in a Taiwanese Church in California Was Not a Hate Crime but a Criminal Committing Murder.
- Rebuttal: The Shooting Has Been Classified as a Hate Crime Because the Chinese Man That Carried Out the Shooting Was Motivated by the Political Tension Between China and Taiwan (Planas ET AL., 2022). The Shooter Has Been Booked in Jail for Five Accounts of Attempted Murder and a Single Account of a Murder.
- Affirmative: In the United States, Anti-asian Violence and Racism Have Risen Recently.
- Negative: Gun violence is rising and has not been mainly due to racially focused crimes.
References
Foster-Frau, S., Hernández, A. R., Clement, S., & Guskin, E. (2022). Poll: Black Americans fear more racist attacks after Buffalo shooting. The Washington Post.
Isoke, S., & Wellemeyer, J. (2020). Black students experience trauma from racist incidents at school, experts say. NBC News.
Planas, A., Blankstein, A., Dienst, J., & Romero, D. (2022). Shooting at Taiwanese church in California that killed 1, wounded 5 investigated as hate crime, FBI says.NBC News.